Do you know the difference between cohesion and coherence?

Read the text and discover the difference between cohesion and coherence: two important components in the development of a text.

Whenever we write any kind of essay, we always hear about the importance of being cohesive and coherent.

However, do you know what this means and what the difference is between them? Keep reading and find out!

See our index below:

• What is the difference between cohesion and coherence?
• What is cohesion?
• Types of cohesion;
• What is coherence?
• Conclusion.

What is the difference between cohesion and coherence?

Although they are two important components in a text, they are completely different; in fact, an essay can be cohesive but incoherent.

The only connection they have is the fact that they are indispensable elements for the structure and development of a good text.

Therefore, the best way to understand the difference between cohesion and coherence It's about discovering what each one means and its role in writing.

What is cohesion?

Cohesion is the element responsible for organizing a sequence of words and transforming them into a text.

She is the one who promotes the connection and harmony between the textual elements, the main ones being: introduction, development, and conclusion.

Therefore, we can conclude that it is the structure of the text; it is what connects all the elements: verbal phrases, conjunctions, prepositions, etc.

Therefore, a text lacking cohesion becomes completely unstructured. It's just a bunch of disorganized words that won't fulfill its assigned mission: to convey messages.

In Physics, cohesion has a special meaning and applies very well to its purpose in a text. 

"Cohesion is the force of attraction between the atoms and molecules that make up a body, and it resists even if the body breaks apart." 

Textual cohesion is precisely the attractive force of a text; it is responsible for connecting the constituent elements of the writing.

She is the one who gives it meaning and ensures that the writer managed to convey his message clearly and meaningfully.

To better understand what it is difference between cohesion and coherenceFirst, you need to find out what types of cohesion exist. They are:

• reference;
• replacement;
• ellipse;
• conjunction;
• lexical.

See below for some examples.

1. Cohesion by reference: 

It serves to avoid repeating terms. In fact, it's one of the most commonly used models in text. Observe the example below:

Second-year students They went to visit the city zoo.The second-year students They were accompanied by their pets.

The correct answer is: 

Second-year students They went to visit the city zoo. They were accompanied by their pets.

2. Cohesion by substitution

It serves to replace words and expressions that refer back to terms already introduced through anaphora. Observe the example below:

THE enterprise was notified about the service malfunctionIn case the service malfunction If this happens again, the company's service will be suspended.

Replace with:

THE enterprise She was notified about the service malfunction. If this happens again, the service it will be suspended

3. Cohesion by ellipsis

This occurs when one or more words are omitted without affecting the clarity of the sentence.

Joana does the correction of the tests, and at the same time Joana A phone conversation with her mother.

Prefer:

Joana corrects the tests, and at the same time conversation on the phone with her mother.

4. Cohesion through conjunction

It is the type of cohesion that facilitates relationships between the terms in the text through the appropriate placement of conjunctions.

Example: As I didn't pass the test, I didn't go to the get-together, however, I managed to watch the live stream on Instagram.

5. Lexical cohesion

This occurs when synonyms, heteronyms, hyponyms, and pronouns are used. See the example:

Laura She is considered one of the best students in the class. She has been studying at the school since preschool. Greatest genius In mathematics, she won the student council election three times in a row.

Now that you know the main types of cohesionIt will be much easier to apply them to your text.

What is coherence?

It is one of the key elements for the reader to understand the subject matter. However, this understanding is built upon the reader's prior knowledge.

That's why it's so important, when writing a text, to think about who is reading it and how they will understand the message.

Certainly, this is where textual coherence comes in. These are practices that give meaning to your text and allow you to articulate your ideas. 

Unlike cohesion, coherence is immaterial. For there to be comprehension of what is written, there needs to be an interaction between the reader, the author, and the content.

The reader is responsible for organizing the meanings of the text. As they read it, they create their own interpretations of the subject matter.

That's why it's common to see several people interpreting the same text differently. Have you ever seen that happen?

Coherence is very important for understanding the text, even if the reader has no prior knowledge of the subject.

In fact, that is the function of coherence: to make the reader understand the author's ideas, regardless of their socio-cognitive level.

Below are some elements that can make your text coherent and easier for the reader to understand.

Examples to make the writing coherent:

1. To demonstrate mastery of the presented topic.
2. Always present logical situations and ideas that do not contradict each other throughout the text.
3. Avoid linguistic vices, that is, repetitions of ideas throughout the text.
4. The concepts in the text should be related to each other.
5. Maintaining harmony in the facts;
6. Present sufficient information on the topic;
7. Write in an objective, simple, and clear manner;
8. Structuring the text and its ideas;
9. To define a line of reasoning and rational thought.

Furthermore, it's important to know what to avoid, for example: unnecessary use of words, repetition of terms, and overly long sentences.

The tip is to always put yourself in the reader's shoes and read your text aloud to see if it's understandable.

Conclusion

As you can see, textual cohesion is more closely linked to grammatical rules, that is, the internal connection of the text.

While textual coherence is linked to the external and deeper connection of essayIn this case, your topic.

Despite there being a huge difference between cohesion and coherenceBoth have the same purpose: to help you communicate through writing in a way that is understandable and pleasant for the reader.

Nara Sampaio

SEO writer, digital content creator, and virtual assistant. An introvert who found in writing a way to express herself and share knowledge!

April 26, 2022